Family Support and Other Social Factors Precipitating Suicidal Ideation.

Hirsch, Jameson; Ellis, Jon B.

The dramatic increase in suicide in the past 30 years, especially among young people ages 15 to 24, has prompted numerous investigations into its cause. Research on suicidal ideation involving college students shows that this population may be especially at risk and this paper examines the effects of the college environment, family support, and demographics on older adolescents' suicidal behaviors. Researchers asked 385 adolescent undergraduates, mean age 20.5 years, to complete a demographic questionnaire and a Suicide Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ). Sixteen percent of respondents described themselves as "serious" ideators, while 59 percent were seen as ideators. Women indicated more suicidal thoughts than did men. Statistical analyses revealed that the type of care giver a person reported having while growing up accounted for a significant amount of the variance on ideator status. Serious ideators were more common among single parent households. This result suggests that suicidal behaviors may occur due to a complex interaction between social factors and childhood care. The difficulties which often accompany childhood in a non-traditional home, including loneliness and social isolation, may promote less-adaptive coping skills. When exposed to a stressful situation, like college, these persons may be unable to cope effectively and thus become hopeless. (RJM)